FAQs

Since Prop 13 was passed, property taxes in almost all jurisdictions including Coronado do not stay within the community. Instead, all property taxes are allocated on a fair-share basis to cities and counties across the state. So, Coronado receives no more than other communities and in fact, often less funding, since the demographics of our students do not provide much in additional funding (like Title 1 funds) except for our military dependents.

As a result, our schools receive the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funding per student and little additional public funding to operate the schools. When your child misses a day of school for any reason, our schools do not receive funding (about $50/day).

We ask parents to donate to the level your family can afford. The recommended donation is $1 a day per child, payable in year-round monthly installments of $30. The online giving form at csfkids.org/donate provides options to give monthly or you can make a single donation.

Coronado Unified schools are the “crown jewels” in our city. Many parents continue to donate long after their children have graduated as well as neighbors, grandparents and alumni. It takes a village to maintain the top-rated public comprehensive school district in San Diego County. Support of the greater community is vital to the continued success of our students while enrolled at our schools and after graduation.

Both the Foundation and Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTO) are critical to the quality of education in our community and work together to support the schools. In the spring of 2007, the Foundation and parent/teacher group leaders forged a Parent Leadership Council (PLC) that meets bi-monthly with the CUSD Superintendent to coordinate fundraising efforts and ensure our school and classroom needs are being met. We like to summarize the roles by saying, "CSF provides big ticket items like doc-u-cams, and the parent-teacher group buys the lightbulb to keep the technology working." CSF and the Parent Teacher Organizations at each site are two pieces of the funding puzzle, with the parent-teacher group providing teacher teacher classroom grants, hospitality and appreciateion for teachers, serve as a primary communication link for the parents to the school, and provide classroom support. By virtue of their charters, these groups are not intended to provide funding for credentialed teachers’ salaries.

CSF has many opportunities for businesses to support Coronado’s schools throughout the year. Please call our Director of Development at 619.437.8059 ext. 1 or email csf@csfkids.org

Over the years, the Coronado Schools Foundation (CSF) has continued to be responsive to the needs of Coronado Unified teachers and students. During the 2022-23 school year, CSF’s Program Committee worked closely with Coronado Unified School District (CUSD) staff to revise existing CSF Program Funding Guidelines for Site Grants. With the goal of streamlining messaging for potential donors and aligning resources in a thoughtful and cohesive manner, staff reviewed existing programs to develop two distinct pathways that provide value added experiences for students grades TK through 12:
∙ STEM Innovation Pathway, encompassing science, technology, engineering and math opportunities with all campuses using Project Lead the Way curriculum;
∙ ARTS Innovation Pathway, encompassing both the visual and performing arts opportunities.

Prior to the dissolution of the Community Development Agencies (CDA) across the state in 2012, the schools benefited from CDA funding through its partnership with the City of Coronado and CDA. These funds allowed CUSD to construct first-class educational facilities. Village Elementary School and the Blumenthal Sports Complex were constructed with CDA funds before 1998.

With the passage of the school bond in 1998, CUSD embarked on a significant building program to update and rebuild outdated facilities: Coronado Middle School (CMS), the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) on 6th Street, a remodeled Silver Strand Elementary and Coronado High School (CHS), installation of artificial field turf and track for Niedermeyer and Cutler Fields, new tennis courts on D Avenue, a swimming pool on the campus of Coronado High School, a new facility for Palm Academy for Learning on D Avenue, a new Maintenance and Operations building at 7th Street, and a new District Office building at 201 6th Street. By law, these funds could not be used for operations or salaries, only to build and improve facilities. Additionally, the District receives funds from home expansion projects.

CSF does not write a blank check to the district. CSF funds programs based on the recommendations of committees at each school, CUSD approval, and the approval of the CSF Board each spring. School sites provide mid-year updates regarding funding as well as challenges faced at each site.

Yes! Just note your request on your donation form.